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The blog banner was made with elements from Lorie Davison. The nail head is Mo Jackson, the white rabbit and the key is Tangie Baxter. The butterflies are from Katie Pertiet.

Tuesday, October 18, 2011

Monkeys(?) and A Gruesome Giveaway

I'm running behind.  Will do the drawing Monday night.  You have one more day, kids!! 

Here's the story:

Several years ago I was wandering through our local flea market. 
 I came upon a gentleman selling beads. 
More often than not you see the same sellers at our flea market.
Especially, the bigger ones that set up stands.
I had never seen this man before.
Ever.



 He had quite a spread.  It was all laid out on a large table full of bead trays.
 The seller claimed to be from Tibet. 
Judging by his accent, his appearance and his small stature I tended to believe him.
 He was selling a vast array of some amazing beads.






 I purchased these two skulls.
They are beads.
They are 2 inches and quite large.
 As he was wrapping them up he said,
 "Those are hand carved monk knees." 
Thinking he had said monkeys I just smiled. 
They didn't look like monkeys but I wasn't going to argue.





He persisted. "Monks carve their bones into intricate objects 
when one of them has passed on. 
Those beads are carved from monk knees."


 I don't know that this is true. 
They are definitely bone.

And, I have to say
they look like knees.
I try not to think about it.
Smiling.
Knees.
Toothsome, even.
But
Knees.

 That's all I can tell you.


It does make an interesting story. 

And, by the way. I've never seen this man at the flea market since.

So...
Here's what we're doing.
Leave a comment about 
The Bingston Monkey Boys
and..
?what?
I have to call them SOMETHING.



Leave a comment and I'll pull a name Sunday night.

Sunday
October 23rd.
I want these bad boys
out of my house.
They can come visit
at YOURS!!!

26 comments:

fairyrocks said...

Wonderful story, I would agree they do look like bone....Hmm I just measured my knee cap, I wonder what someone would carve from mine? Maybe the thigh bone instead a nice bone folder....LOL
Have a great day

AlphaBetsy said...

What an amazing and strange story. They do look like they are made of some kind of bone, so why not a monks knee. :) I definitely think they are awesome, though. So they are more than welcome at my house.

Cameron said...

Monk knees?! Patella fellas?
I have almost non-existent knee caps...it's true....makes my knee look all squishy with nothing filling out the region very well. I was glad to see that Maggie got her Daddy's knee caps! The things we look for, eh?!

Sure, see if those guys wanna come live with me....they'd like all my Halloween stuff!

Btw! It is so fun seeing your earrings in collection after collection on Etsy! People can't seem to get enough of them!

Sue said...

LOL I KNEE-D those beads to come live at my house!! Get it? Kneed!!!

Though I like patella fellas too!

Great story!

Terri Kahrs said...

Hmmmm . . . . Ying and Yang sound "spiritual" to me!!! Hahaah!!! OMG! I don't know if your story is "true" or not . . . but it's DEFINITELY giving me a good case of the creeps!!!! Hugs, Terri xoxo

Pansy Cottage Girl said...

Oh my, just in time for Halloween! Really creepy!

Unknown said...

Oh yeah these are calling to me. They'd be right at home next to my bird skulls (all found in gardens by myself and friends). Will you please toss my name in to the mix? I love your spooooooooooooky story by the way. I wish we were sitting around the fireplace with a hot something to drink while you told this in person. *smiles* Norma

That Crazy Ajumma said...

Ooh..creepy and intriguing!
I love them!
Knees, toes, elbows...it doesn't matter.
I would take them home and love them as if they were my own knees.:)
Thanks for the giveaway!

JoAnne said...

Love the story and definitely loving The Bingston Monkey Boys! Those bad boys will be quite welcome in my eclectic home...

Willow said...

Oh those are too cool! If they are made from real knee caps, that is awesome, but creepy too. They are gorgeous either way! This is a fantastic party post.

Micupoftea said...

WHat a creative and interesting post! So glad you were part of Vanessa's party! Come have tea & candy with me~
http://poetryinapotoftea.blogspot.com/2011/10/happy-haunting-halloween-tea.html#comments

Donna said...

Creepy spooky fun ! Love the skulls .. too cool !

Miz Creatrix said...

Yikes...that's quite a find you came across there!

I can see the knee possibility too...though in the one photo taken from behind--for a moment I thought I was looking at two slices of very aged bread taken from the "heel". :P

Happy Halloween!

Denise said...

Wonderful and interesting, esp. for Halloween.You can leave my name out of the drawing HEEHEE I just loved the post:)

Artfully Musing said...

Oh my goodness who would have thought. Major creep factor. LOL Happy Halloween!

Buccaneers and Ball Gowns said...

That is so awesome and creepy! I definitely hope they are knees.

Joyce van der Lely said...

ohhhh, I hope I got here in time....I love those guys....
Great I found you through Fanciful twist, might have to come back for another visit to your Halloween Party....
Come by and visit mine if you have some time,
Happy Halloween !!!!
Joyce
http://jetdtsetters.blogspot.com

Anonymous said...

Monk Kneeees??? OH MY! Fascinating and creeeeepy all in one! Thanks you for the tale!

Your photos are perfection!

♥ Vanessa {A Fanciful Twist}

Anonymous said...

That is quite fascinating!

LYNDY WARD said...

SPOOKTACULAR HALLOWEEN FUN!
Please fly by party when you can...
Hauntingly Yours, Lyndy >^..^<

Princess Diana's Wedding Ring Giveaway & Halloween Party:
http://todaysgold.blogspot.com/

spiceblogger said...

Awww..... it's taken me all weekend to make the party rounds, and now I've missed your give away :(

I LOVE these beads, though!!!! And the story is awesome ;)
Happy Halloween!
http://inthelandofspice.com/2011/10/22/halloween-party-bloghop/

In the Light of the Moon said...

Monk Knees?Really? Eeekk..but very cool!!heehee!!

potterygirl1 said...

Love the story! And Love the beads they are so sweet!

Wendy said...

A Freaky Fun and Creepy story. I had fun hearing about the crazy man selling Monk KNEES. KOOOOKY!!!
Please stop by and visit for a Mad Halloween Tea Party....We would love to have you stop in....
Have a Happy Halloween
Spells and Wishes
Wendy from Wonderland
http://candydelane.typepad.com/curiosities

Bohemian said...

These definitely look like they're made of real bone... hopefully not Human?!?!?!? *Eeeek!*

Dawn... The Bohemian

Jarandhel Dreamsinger said...

They seem to be exactly what the seller told you they were - here's another example of this type of carving, virtually identical to the ones you have: http://paranormalcollector.com/?p=209